Otto-William of Mâcon was born in 958 during the joint reign of his grandfather, King Berengar II of Italy, and his father, King Adalbert. His mother was Gerberga of Mâcon. His mother gave him what would later be the Free County of Burgundy around Dole in 982.
The duchy then corresponded to the diocese of Besançon in the Holy Roman Empire. By 990 Otto-William was the Count of Nevers. He was also Count of Mâcon in France.
While the son of a king, he did not himself seek a royal wife. Burgundy was annexed to the crown of France by King Robert II in 1004. Determined to be sovereign ruler of his own lands, Otto revolted against the Emperor Henry II in 1016.
This was after Rudolph III of Burgundy, the last king of that realm, had done homage to Henry at Strasbourg making him his guard and heir. On Otto's death, the Free County fell under the suzerainty of the German emperors. Otto-William died 21 September, 1026 at the age of 64.
